What do gastrointestinal surgeons do

Pancreatic Surgery — Can be used in treating various pancreatic conditions. Cholecystectomy — Removes gallbladder to treat gallstones. Nissen — Treats severe gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as gastric reflux, strengthening the muscle that contracts to keep stomach acid away from the esophagus. Chronic acid reflux patients often experience chest pain, a burning sensation in their throats, chests, mouth, sore throat, or difficulty swallowing.

Retroperitoneum Surgery — Treats testicular cancer. Open GI Procedures Open GI surgeries are performed with larger incisions, leading to larger scars, more pain, and longer hospital stays and recovery time. Some open GI procedures are: Appendectomy — An emergency surgery to remove the appendix. Whipple Procedure Pancreaticoduodenectomy — A complex surgery used to treat cancer or other pancreatic growths. Abdominal Surgery — Includes various procedures to diagnose or treat abdominal disorders.

Roux-en-Y — Bypasses or connects the intestines to treat obesity or severe reflux. Adrenalectomy — Removes one or both adrenal glands. Nissen fundoplication - Strengthens the muscle between the esophagus and stomach to treat severe gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD or acid reflux. Contact us Call Now. It may also be used to repair a problem like a hernia a hole or weak spot in the wall of the abdomen. Minor surgical procedures are used to screen and diagnose problems of the digestive system.

A surgical procedure called an endoscopy is used to screen and diagnose problems of the digestive system. The doctor puts a long, thin tube with a tiny camera into the body to see inside. If the problem is with the stomach or esophagus, the doctor puts the scope through the esophagus.

To check for colon cancer or other problems of the intestines, the doctor puts the scope through the anus into the intestine. Surgery to remove a tumor or diseased body part, or repair damage, can be lifesaving. Surgery can also improve the quality of life for someone who has not benefited from other treatments, like medicine or diet changes. Colonoscopy is a minor surgical procedure with big benefits: it can catch colon cancer early enough to cure it.

Follow Instructions The doctor or nurse will tell you how to prepare for your surgery. Most likely, you will have instructions about not eating or drinking before the surgery. The doctor may also tell you to stop taking some of your medicines or vitamins before surgery. Follow all of the instructions you get for preparing for surgery. Make a Plan for the Day of Surgery and After Have a plan for who will take you to the surgery and who will take you home, even for a minor surgery.

Plan for who will help you in the days following your surgery. The week after you get home is the most important time after surgery. If not, you may be making a return trip to the hospital. Plan for any changes to your living space. Will you be able to climb stairs after your surgery? Will you be able to use the bathroom as is, or do you need a grip bar or other equipment? Do you have the food you need or a plan for someone to bring meals?

If you need physical therapy after surgery, where will you do it? Most surgery is done by cutting into the body with a scalpel a small knife and other tools. Some surgery is done with a scope — a thin tube with a camera and small surgery tools — to remove growths in the colon, for example.

Anesthesia an- uhs -thee-zhuh is used during the surgery to stop any feelings of pain. Local or regional anesthesia numbs only a certain part of the body while general anesthesia puts a person into a deep sleep. The type of anesthesia used depends on the surgery. It depends on the kind of surgery and how complex it is.

The doctor will follow up with you to tell you how the surgery went and what you need to do next. The timing of follow-up depends on the type of surgery. Your doctor will talk with you about any follow-up treatment or care, and make a treatment plan for you. Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication TIF is an incision-less procedure for treating people with acid reflux disease. Using a special device, the surgeon reconstructs the anti-reflux valve at the entrance of the esophagus into the stomach to prevent reflux.

TIF represents the latest step in the treatment of acid reflux disease. If left untreated, GERD can lead to Barrett's esophagus, a condition that can eventually turn into cancer.

Ablation is a treatment where tissue is heated until it is no longer viable or alive. Physicians have used various forms of ablation for nearly a century to treat a number of conditions. AnMed Health surgeons use a special technique called HALO ablation to completely remove the affected tissue, while minimizing injury to healthy esophagus tissue.

Clinical studies have demonstrated that the Barrett's tissue can be completely eliminated with the HALO ablation technology in People needing their gallbladder removed due to gallstones, pain or inflammation can benefit from da Vinci robotic technology. AnMed Health surgeons use a single small incision — rather than four as required with traditional laparoscopy — through the belly button to remove the gallbladder, resulting in a faster recovery and little to no scarring.

A hernia occurs when a small sac containing tissue pushes through the muscles of the abdominal wall. Hernias can be uncomfortable and usually require repair to prevent them from getting larger.

AnMed Health surgeons use the latest minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques which offer less pain and a quicker recovery. Many conditions can affect the colon, causing bleeding, inflammation and bowel control problems. Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in the country. AnMed Health surgeons perform minimally invasive laparoscopic colon surgery, allowing surgeons to treat many common colon conditions through small incisions.

Depending on the type of procedure, patients may leave the hospital in a few days and return to normal activities more quickly than patients recovering from open surgery. IBD is a broad term referring to any condition causing ongoing inflammation in the digestive tract.

This can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, fatigue and bleeding from the rectum. Diverticulitis is inflammation and infection in one or more diverticula, which are tiny bulges or pockets found in the colon that can develop when there's too much pressure inside the colon.

The appendix is a small narrow pouch attached to the colon, found in the lower right side of your abdomen. Appendicitis happens when this pouch becomes inflamed and irritated. Pain due to appendicitis can be severe, and the standard treatment is to have the appendix surgically removed. Bleeding in your gastrointestinal tract is often due to colorectal conditions like polyps and IBD.

Symptoms vary depending on where in your digestive tract the bleed is occurring but can include black or tarry stool, bright red blood in the stool or on toilet paper and vomiting blood. Gastrointestinal bleeding can lead to a life-threatening condition known as shock if it becomes severe.

A variety of conditions can affect the anus, which is the opening of the lower end of your rectum through which stool feces passes. Common conditions treated by our AnMed Health Anderson colorectal oncology team include:.

A bowel obstruction in the large intestine prohibits stool from passing, which can be life-threatening in some cases. This is often due to colorectal cancer or diverticular disease. Your pelvic floor is formed of a "sling" of muscles that help hold your abdominal contents including your intestines in place. If something disrupts the way these muscles contract and relax, then a variety of symptoms can develop, including the inability to control your stool.

Rectal prolapse happens when the rectum very lower end of the large intestine begins to stick or bulge out of the anus.

A variety of issues can increase the risk of rectal prolapse, including chronic constipation or diarrhea, advancing age and injuries to the anus or pelvis.